Rose remains two clear

Unaware that no first round leader has gone on to win the Masters for 20 years, Justin Rose magnificently maintained his two-stroke advantage at Augusta National with a round as impressive as his opening 67.

Unaware that no first round leader has gone on to win the Masters for 20 years, Justin Rose magnificently maintained his two-stroke advantage at Augusta National with a round as impressive as his opening 67.

To follow up with a one-under-par 71 was a superb effort from the 23-year-old from Hampshire considering he was entering new territory.

Rose had two birdies, just one bogey and 15 pars on a course playing hard and fast again after yesterday's rain and with some devilishly difficult pin placings.

And he was not the only European to show he was up to the task as well, German Alex Cejka and twice winner Jose Maria Olazabal scoring 70 and 69 respectively to share second place.

The five-year wait for a European to win a major title again could well end this weekend on the evidence so far, although Tiger Woods is still a danger at level par, six behind, after a 69.

Rose looked calm and composed both during the round and as he did the long round of tv, radio and press interviews afterwards. But the pressure is bound to build and build.

"I did my best to stay in my own game today and that meant not looking at the leaderboards," he said. "Dealing with it the way I did gives me confidence going into the last two rounds."

An 18-foot birdie at the fifth was the early boost Rose was seeking, but then playing partner Chris DiMarco came within inches of repeating his hole-in-one of the first day at the next, then birdied the seventh and eighth to draw level.

At that point it was actually South Korean KJ Choi who led after a tournament record-equalling front nine of 30. But Choi bogeyed the next three then the 16th for an inward 40 and three-under total.

Rose had his first bogey of the day on the difficult 11th, missing from three feet, but responded with a tee shot to within 18 inches of the flag at the famous `Golden Bell' 12th, then saw DiMarco go into Rae's Creek on the next for a double bogey seven.

The task then was not to ruin his round and he achieved that in fine style, playing a brilliant bunker shot to within two feet of the final flag. It all augurs well for what lies ahead.

Olazabal was full of doom and gloom last week after tumbling off the leaderboard following an opening 65 in the BellSouth Classic. But that round did show what he was capable of and the 38-year-old from San Sebastian made his move with a 40-foot eagle putt on the 13th and birdies at the next two.

While the galleries rose to honour Arnold Palmer on his 50th and last appearance - his second successive 84 was immaterial - others were fighting not to bow out of this year's tournament with him.

Darren Clarke had gone from two under to five over with one to play and needed to birdie it.

Colin Montgomerie, one under overnight, was out in 41, then had four more bogeys - including both par fives - and crashed out with an 80.

Padraig Harrington, one of the pre-tournament favourites, was four over with two to go and had to par both of them to survive.

Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam departed as well on seven over and Brian Davis on 11 over, but there were smiles elsewhere.

Paul Casey achieved his target for the day with a 69. Paul Lawrie finally broke par at the Masters, a 70 taking him into the weekend on three over and Sandy Lyle, while unable to repeat his opening 72, is there too on two over following a 74 and debutants Ian Poulter and Phillip Price both continue.